Storage battery watering device



G. E. MAYBACH STORAGE BATTERY WATERING DEVICE Filed Nov. 22, 1954 Nov. 6, 1956 INVENTOR.

GERA w E. MA YEA CH BY Qua, M,@a4&,rc2m, ATTOR/VE KS.

This invehtioh relates generally to storage battery devices, and more particularly to improvements in fluid filling arrangments therefor.

A particular object of this invention is to provide an improved storage battery filling means whereby batte'ries such as are contained in storage battery compartments having head room cle'arances, will be adapted for relatively easy reino'te' controlled filling of the cells of such storage batteries with water; or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved battery filling means of the remote 'controlled type having an automatic warning device indicating coni- 'pletion of a fluid filling operation, thus signalling the operatorto' stop the battery ce'll filling operation.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a o remote-controlled filling means of the aforesaid type including a spray device for washing off the battery cover after a filling operation.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a filling means of the aforesaid type; which is adapted to cooperate with a horned cover member for the battery filler opening, to facilitate accomplishment of the" aforesaid objects and advantages. V

Other objects and advantages, of the invention will appear from the specification hereinafter.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, partly sectional, View of a filling device of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the device illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line IIIIII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view showing application of the device of Fig. 1 to the operation of opening and closing a battery filler opening cover;

Fig. 5 is a view showing the device as being used in a typical remote-controlled battery filling operation; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view corresponding to Fig. 5 but showing the device as being used to flush down a localized area of the battery cover.

Referring now to the drawing herein; the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated therein comprises generally an elongated, hollow, filler extension tube 10 which is preferably formed of an electrically nonconductive and battery acid-resistant plastic material. The tube 10 is threaded at one end to carry thereon in threaded relation an elbow member 12 which in turn carries a filler nozzle tube 14 formed of similar plastic material.

The nozzle 14 as illustrated in the drawing comprises a hollow cylindrical nipple which is angularly slotted as indicated at 16 to provide a spray orifice near the end thereof to produce a generally conico-ellipsoidal spray pattern of fluid emitted therefrom as indicated at 18 (Figs. 5 and 6). The nozzle member is internally obstructed by a plug or Web 20 while the bottom end of said nozzle is open as indicated at 22 for engagement with United States Fatent G the horn of a battery tili'r 2,7 69,465 Fatented Nov. 6, 1956 openin eis'vei as 55 its scribed hereinafter. p i p b The utility or his invention is shown in are draw'ifig at 5 by way of example in coniictitin with an industrial battery compartment as in a railwaycar or locomotive. A series of storage battery cells 24 are mounted iiithe compartment which has a typically low headroom ceiling 26; the cells 24 being retained in p ositiohby means of vertical supports .28 fixed tothe ceiling by transverse angles 30. V e p v The battery cells 24 are each typically provided a filler opening 31. ,A cover inernber 32 is pivotally mounted as at 34 (Fig.4) to a filler opening 36 which is screw-threaded or otherwise firmly fired in the opening 31. cover 52 isforn'ied with a downwardly extending neck 38 which carries a filler opening sealing disc 40 Hence, the cover 32 is adapted to he pivoted between open and closed positions, as indicated By the broken and solid line positions thereof in Fig. 4, and an angularly protruding horn 42 is provided on the cover 32 to facilitate such operations. The open end portion 22 of the nozzle piece of the present invention is shaped and dimensioned so as to readily slip-fit down over the horn 42, whereby the cover may b'eopened and closed from remotely thereof, as shown in Fig 4. I

Thecells z; are interhally constructed as shown in Fig. Sto have batteryterrninaI post portions 44 laterally of the filler opening 3i, and when the nozzle 14 of the filler of the invention. is inserted in the opening 3135a the niarged abutment provided by elbowinernber n is di p t e ts? he b n t mb 36 hel r fillingwaterwill b'e sprayed as indicated at 18 (Fig.5)

{to hitthe terminal post portions Thus, the pperation of the battery cells will be accornpariied by a pronounced hissing noise, but upon filling of a battEry cell 131F 5 n ib i h a 18 will drive iiit th battery liquidand wil'l causea pro'iioiinced 'ur iing iroise as a result of the turbulenc created the battery liquid. t r ase'sth fil i bs QLIE i i ei th hands of the operator and thusan automatic'signalto the operator at the opposite end of the filler time. He thereupon cuts 01? the water supply as by means of a hand grip type shut-off valve as shown at '46.

Thus, it will be understood that whereas in many battery installations it is necessary for battery maintenance personnel to crawl bodily into cramped compartment spaces to performbattery servicing operations, in the case of the present invention the tube 10 is simply thrust into the space above the battery and the end of the filler tube nozzle is first slipped down upon the cover horned portion 42. The filler tube is then rotated by the hand of the operator as indicated in Fig. 4 to open the cover member 32, and then the nozzle portion 14 is inserted into the filler opening 31 until the elbow 12 abuts the filler opening bushing 36 for filling the cell as hereinabove described. Subsequent to filling and re-closing of the cover member by gripping of the cover horn as explained hereinabove, the device is adapted to flush off any spilled acid or the like from the top of the battery as shown in Fig. 6.

it will of course be understood that although only one 'form of the invention has been shown and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited but that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. The combination with a storage battery having .a filler opening and a hinge cover formed with a horn filler tube, a nozzle for insertion into said filler opening,

a right angled elbow connecting said tube and said nozzle and eng'ageable with the'top' of said filler opening when "inserted vertically into the latter, said nozzle being provided with a socket portion at its outer end for engagem at ith enhqr p rt ofsaidhirlged c v t i'saidcover to its open position'preliminarily 'to insertion of said nozzle into said filler opening, and :said nozzle ibeing. provided in' its side wall intermediate the outer end thereof and s'ai'd elbow with ,an'angularly arranged slot, fwhe'reby when said nozzle is inserted into said filler opening water will 'be directed into the battery so as to cause distinguishable audible Isi gnals under battery liquid lowlevel and high level conditions.

2.'The combination with astoragebattery having a filler opening anda hinge, cover formed with a horn portion, of a watering device comprising an elongated filler tube, a nozzle carried by said tube for insertion into said filleropening, said nozzle and said tube being arranged at "substantiallyiightangles to each other, said nozzle being provided with-a socket portion at'its outer end for engagement with the horn portion of said hinged cover to manually tiltrsaid cover to its open position about an axis parallelwith the 'axis of said tube, and said nozzle being provided in its side wall intermediate the outer end thereof jand saidielbow with a downwardly inclined slot, whereby when said nozzle is inserted into said filler opening water will be directed into the battery so as to cause distinguishable audible signals under battery liquid lowlevel and high-level conditions; t g Y V 3 The combination with a storage battery having a fille'r opening and a hinge cover formed with a horn portion, of a Watering device comprising an elongated filler tube, a nozzle carried by said tube for insertion into said filler opening, said'nozzle and said tube being arranged at substantially right angles to each other, said nozzle being j provided with a-la teralweb extending across the opening "near its outer end thereby forming an outwardly-facing socket for engagement with the horn portion of-said' 4. The combination with a storage battery having a filler opening and a hinge cover formed with a horn portion, of a watering device comprising an elongated filler tube, a nozzle for insertion into said filler opening, 1 a right angled elbow connecting said tube and said nozzle and engageable with the top of said filler opening when inserted vertically into the latter, said nozzle being provided with a lateral web extending across'the opening thereof near its lowergend thereby forming an outwardly i a facing socket for engagement with the horn portion of said hinged cover 'to manuallyttilt saidcover to its-open position-about an axis'parallel with the axis of said tube, and said nozzle being provided in its side wall adjacent said Web with a downwardly inclined slot, whereby the water will be directed into the battery so as to cause distinguishable audible signals under battery liquid lowlevel and high-level conditions. 7

5 A watering device fora storage battery having a filler opening and a hinged cover therefor formedwith a 1 the filler opening when said nozzle is'inserted therein, and

hinged; cover to manually tilt said cover'to its open posi- Sand high-level conditions.

V tionabo ut an axispar allel with the axis of said tube,

means providing a socket portion at the outer end of said nozzle for engagementwith the cover horn; portion to tilt the cover to open position, said nozzle being provided with an angularly arranged slot in its side wall intermediate the opposite ends thereof, whereby said device will direct waterinto the battery; so as to causedistinguishable audible signals under battery liquid l'ow-level and V high-level conditions. 7 N I References Cited in theme of this patent UNITED STATESLPAIENTS 1 987,518 7 I 1,318,810 Shepherd Oc t. 14', 1919 1,882,154 Mannet a1. Oct;'11, 1932 2,103,055 Bickley Dec.'-'2"1, 1937 2,244,947 Hargiss June :10, 1941- Edwards r July 28, 19 53 

